Twins Cut Scouting Department to One

[WaltsSuccessor]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/ ... tment.html

Pretty drastic. Article indicates they want to lean more into analytics instead of in person traditional scouting, which is fine. But just one human scout seems pretty crazy.

Twins are definitely full blown in pinching pennies mode. I’d bet money Pablo Lopez is moved this offseason. Maybe Joe Ryan too. Either would great if Cards are actually interested in trying to win next year.

[RunSup]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/ ... tment.html

Pretty drastic. Article indicates they want to lean more into analytics instead of in person traditional scouting, which is fine. But just one human scout seems pretty crazy.

Twins are definitely full blown in pinching pennies mode. I’d bet money Pablo Lopez is moved this offseason. Maybe Joe Ryan too. Either would great if Cards are actually interested in trying to win next year.

Bad move. They've drafted well with a scouting staff. They are sawing off a leg. There is no reason to rely solely on some analytic service.

The Cardinals should cherry pick their scouts and coaches.

[blackinkbiz]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/ ... tment.html

Pretty drastic. Article indicates they want to lean more into analytics instead of in person traditional scouting, which is fine. But just one human scout seems pretty crazy.

Twins are definitely full blown in pinching pennies mode. I’d bet money Pablo Lopez is moved this offseason. Maybe Joe Ryan too. Either would great if Cards are actually interested in trying to win next year.

Bad move. They've drafted well with a scouting staff. They are sawing off a leg. There is no reason to rely solely on some analytic service.

The Cardinals should cherry pick their scouts and coaches.

Wasn't Jordan Walker an analytical "can't miss" prospect? He's supposedly a 5-tool prospect.

[BrockFloodMaris]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/ ... tment.html

Pretty drastic. Article indicates they want to lean more into analytics instead of in person traditional scouting, which is fine. But just one human scout seems pretty crazy.

Twins are definitely full blown in pinching pennies mode. I’d bet money Pablo Lopez is moved this offseason. Maybe Joe Ryan too. Either would great if Cards are actually interested in trying to win next year.

Thanks for the post. Interesting stuff. I doubt seriously that the Cards will be trading off prospects (which is what the Twins will want) in order to win next year. The Cards rebuild will take three years. The 2026 MLB W/L record will not be a top priority.

[Banner29]

Absolutely ridiculous. Why MLB front offices want to treat analytics as the saving grace rather than just another tool in the tool box is beyond me.

Too many nerds out to prove they are just as special as those that actually know and study the game

[Wattage]

Absolutely ridiculous. Why MLB front offices want to treat analytics as the saving grace rather than just another tool in the tool box is beyond me.

Too many nerds out to prove they are just as special as those that actually know and study the game

i think in this case the "analytics" is just an excuse orncover for the real motive of cutting costs and being cheap

[cardstatman]

The Cardinals have cut their scoring department to one.

[Voldemort]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/ ... tment.html

Pretty drastic. Article indicates they want to lean more into analytics instead of in person traditional scouting, which is fine. But just one human scout seems pretty crazy.

Twins are definitely full blown in pinching pennies mode. I’d bet money Pablo Lopez is moved this offseason. Maybe Joe Ryan too. Either would great if Cards are actually interested in trying to win next year.

While I understand the point of the OP, there is more to this than cutting their scouting department down to one scout. Anyone who has been around amateur baseball for any length of time knows that there are "scouts" out there who have cards saying that they scout for this or that team and profess to be high-level scouts; in fact, they are "birddogs." They hit the ballyards scouting and then get their "checker" out to see the prospect that they discovered. Someone like Oberfell probably fell into this category. I fell into the trap out of HS, thinking that the Twins were interested in me. I was invited to a camp at Blanchette Park. I bet a few who post on this site made it to that camp or similar camps. Yes, the bird dog scout was there along with six or seven other bird dog scouts. I had a great camp, and nothing came from it other than I started thinking that I had a chance to play professionally. NOPE! The reality was that I was average at best.

These bird dogs will still be out there and will most likely use technology in an attempt to get their prospects noticed.

[WaltsSuccessor]

Absolutely ridiculous. Why MLB front offices want to treat analytics as the saving grace rather than just another tool in the tool box is beyond me.

Too many nerds out to prove they are just as special as those that actually know and study the game

i think in this case the "analytics" is just an excuse orncover for the real motive of cutting costs and being cheap

Agreed. Their deadline approach said loud and clear they’re in hardcore cost cutting mode. They were also listed for sale but I believe the owners pulled it off the market. Might be trying to reduce debt/obligations then relist to hopefully get a higher valuation.